CBSE Class 5 Environmental Studies: Walls Tell Stories NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 5 PDF

This chapter, "Walls Tell Stories," for CBSE Class 5 Environmental Studies, delves into the fascinating world of historical architecture, focusing on forts and their construction. Students will explore the purpose of bastions and holes in fort walls for security and surveillance. The solutions explain how natural elements like air and light were managed in old buildings through thoughtful design, and the tools used for intricate carvings. A significant part of the chapter involves understanding directions (East, West, North, South) using the sun's movement and a map of Golconda Fort. Students will learn to interpret maps, calculate distances, and identify various structures within the fort. These solutions provide clear explanations and step-by-step guidance, making them an excellent resource for exam revision and a deeper understanding of historical structures and spatial orientation.

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Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 5
SubjectEnvironmental Studies
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter10 Walls Tell Stories

Chapter summary

Chapter 10, "Walls Tell Stories," of the CBSE Class 5 EVS curriculum focuses on understanding the defensive features of historical forts, such as bastions and strategically placed holes. It also covers architectural elements for ventilation and light, the tools used for stone carving, and the fundamental concepts of cardinal directions. The chapter utilizes a map of Golconda Fort to teach map reading, direction finding, and distance calculation, reinforcing practical application of these concepts.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the defensive purposes of bastions and holes in fort walls.
  • Identify architectural features that provide light and air in old buildings.
  • Recognize the tools used for historical stone carving.
  • Determine cardinal directions (East, West, North, South) using the sun and maps.
  • Interpret maps of historical sites like Golconda Fort.
  • Calculate real-world distances from map scales.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Fort Architecture
  • Bastions and Defensive Features
  • Historical Building Techniques
  • Ventilation and Light in Buildings
  • Stone Carving Tools
  • Cardinal Directions
  • Sun's Movement and Directions
  • Map Reading
  • Golconda Fort Map Interpretation
  • Scale and Distance Calculation
  • Water Management in Forts
  • Gates and Palaces in Forts

Important topics

  • Understanding Fort Defenses (Bastions, Holes)
  • Determining Cardinal Directions
  • Map Reading and Scale Interpretation
  • Architectural Features for Comfort
  • Historical Construction Methods

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Questions and Solutions

Think

1. Why were bastions made in the fort wall?
Solution: Bastions were strategically constructed as part of the fort wall to enhance security. They are projecting parts of the wall that allowed soldiers to have a wider field of vision and to fire upon any attackers from multiple angles, making it harder for enemies to breach the fort.

Think

2. Why were big holes made in them?
Solution: Big holes, often called loopholes or embrasures, were made in the bastions to allow soldiers to observe the surroundings and spot any approaching enemies. These holes provided a clear line of sight while also offering protection to the soldiers looking out.

Think

3. What difference would be there if you were to look from a straight flat wall or a bastion at a height? How would the soldiers find peeping from the holes in the bastions useful while attacking?
Solution: Looking from a straight flat wall would offer a limited view, primarily in the direction the wall faces. In contrast, a bastion, being a projecting structure, provides a much wider panoramic view of the area surrounding the fort. For soldiers, peeping from the holes in bastions would be extremely useful during an attack because they could see the enemy's movements from different directions, aim their weapons more effectively, and coordinate their defense without exposing themselves too much.

Think and Discuss

1. How would the fountains have worked?
Solution: Fountains in historical structures typically worked by using gravity and a water supply system. Water would have been stored in a large reservoir or tank, often at a higher elevation. From there, it would flow through pipes or channels to reach the fountains, creating the desired water display.

Think and Discuss

2. What arrangements would have been made in the building for air and light?
Solution: Old buildings were designed with thoughtful arrangements for natural air and light. This typically included large windows, doors, and ventilators. These openings allowed sunlight to illuminate the interiors and fresh air to circulate, keeping the spaces well-lit and ventilated without relying on modern electrical or mechanical systems.

Think and Discuss

3. Look carefully at the picture of the beautiful carving on the wall. What kind of tools would have been used for such fine carving?
Solution: Such intricate and fine carvings on stone walls would have been created using specialized tools. The most common tools for this type of work are a chisel, which is used to chip away at the stone, and a hammer, which is used to strike the chisel. These tools, likely made of strong metal like iron, allowed artisans to create detailed patterns and designs.

Where is East-West?

1. At the place you are, where does the sun rise? Where does it set? Where you are standing, find out what all is there to your east? What all is there to your west? Also find out, what places are to your north and south.
Solution: The sun always rises in the East and sets in the West. To determine what is to your east, west, north, and south, stand facing the direction where the sun rises (East). Your back will be towards the West, your right side will be towards the South, and your left side will be towards the North. By observing your surroundings from your current position, you can identify landmarks or places in each of these directions.

Tell and Write

1. If you are peeping inside from Bodli Darwaza, in which direction from you is Katora Hauz?
Solution: Based on the map of Golconda Fort, if you are looking from Bodli Darwaza, Katora Hauz is located in the North direction from your position.

Tell and Write

2. If someone is entering from Banjara Darwaza, in which direction from her is Katora Hauz?
Solution: When entering from Banjara Darwaza, Katora Hauz is situated in the South direction relative to the entrance point. This indicates that the Darwaza and the Hauz are on opposite sides relative to the fort's internal layout.

Tell and Write

3. In which direction will you walk from Bala Hisar to reach Moti Mahal?
Solution: To travel from Bala Hisar to Moti Mahal, you would need to walk in the East direction, according to the provided map of Golconda Fort.

Tell and Write

4. How many gates can you see on the outer walls of the fort?
Solution: By examining the map of Golconda Fort, we can count a total of nine gates marked on its outer walls.

Tell and Write

5. Count how many palaces are there in the fort?
Solution: According to the map and information provided for Golconda Fort, there are three palaces located within the fort complex.

Tell and Write

6. What arrangements for water can you see inside the fort? For example; wells, tanks, stepwells.
Solution: Inside Golconda Fort, various arrangements for water supply were present. The map and details indicate the presence of five baolis (stepwells) and three hauz (tanks), which served as important sources for water storage and access.

Tell and Write

7. On the map, 1 cm distance is equal to a distance of 110 metres on the ground. Now tell: On the map, the distance between Bala Hisar and Fateh Darwaza is cm. On the ground, the distance between the two would be metres.
Solution: The map indicates that the distance between Bala Hisar and Fateh Darwaza is 8 cm. Using the given scale where 1 cm on the map represents 110 metres on the ground, the actual distance on the ground would be calculated as: 8 cm * 110 metres/cm = 880 metres. Therefore, the distance on the ground is 880 metres.

Tell and Write

8. How far is Makai Darwaza from Fateh Darwaza?
Solution: Based on the map and scale provided for Golconda Fort, the distance between Makai Darwaza and Fateh Darwaza is approximately 100 metres on the ground.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing directions when interpreting maps from different reference points.
  • Difficulty in visualizing the purpose of architectural features like bastions.
  • Inaccurate calculation of ground distances from map scales.
  • Not clearly distinguishing between the function of different fort elements.

Revision tips

  • Draw your own simple map and mark directions to practice.
  • Imagine yourself at Golconda Fort and try to locate places mentioned in the map.
  • Discuss with friends why different parts of a fort were built the way they were.
  • Relate the concept of directions to your own surroundings.
  • Review the map scale carefully before calculating any distances.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was the primary purpose of bastions in fort walls?

Q2. Why were large holes made in the bastions?

Q3. Which tools were likely used for fine stone carving on fort walls?

Q4. According to the chapter, where does the sun rise?

Q5. On the Golconda map, if 1 cm represents 110 metres, what does 8 cm represent?

Q6. If Katora Hauz is to the north when looking from Bodli Darwaza, in which direction is it from Banjara Darwaza?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of the 'Walls Tell Stories' chapter in Class 5 EVS?

The chapter focuses on understanding the historical significance of fort walls, their architectural features for defense and comfort, and basic concepts of directions and map reading using Golconda Fort as an example.

Why are bastions important in a fort?

Bastions are important because they extend outwards from the fort wall, allowing soldiers to see and defend a larger area, thus enhancing security.

How can students learn about directions from this chapter?

Students can learn about directions by observing the sun's rise and set, and by interpreting the directions shown on the map of Golconda Fort.

What skills are developed by studying the Golconda Fort map?

Studying the map helps develop skills in understanding map scales, calculating distances between locations, and identifying different structures within the fort.

What kind of tools are discussed for carving walls?

The chapter mentions that tools like a chisel and hammer, likely made of iron, would have been used for fine carving on the fort walls.

How do these NCERT solutions help Class 5 students?

These solutions provide clear, step-by-step answers to textbook questions, helping students understand complex concepts related to forts, directions, and historical architecture, aiding in their exam preparation.

Important links

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